Title:
For Whom Did Christ Die?
Text:
John 10: 14-16
Date:
September 7, 2012
Place:
SGBC, New Jersey
This
week someone asked me one of the best questions I have been asked in a long
time, “What do you preach concerning limited atonement?”
My
answer to that question is that limited atonement, or particular redemption, is
the gospel!
Proposition: Particular redemption means that Christ Jesus laid down
his life for a particular people—the elect of God—given him before the
foundation of the world and accomplished their redemption so that not one shall
perish but shall all be brought to Christ.
Particular
redemption is not just a side issue, as I have heard some men blasphemously
say—the successful redemption of a particular people by the death of Christ Jesus
IS THE ISSUE!
At the
heart of every false gospel—of free will, works religion—is the denial of
Christ’s successful, finished redemption of the elect of God.
Title: For
Whom Did Christ Die?
We will
get the answer this morning from God the Son, Christ Jesus, himself.
John 10:14
I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. 15:
As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I LAY DOWN MY LIFE FOR
THE SHEEP. 16: And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I
must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and
one shepherd.
I. CHRIST KNOWS EACH ELECT CHILD GIVEN TO HIM
OF GOD HIS FATHER AS INTIMATELY AS HE KNOWS HIS FATHER.
John 10: 14
I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. 15: As
the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father…
Christ Jesus says, I know my sheep, just as
the Father knoweth me and as I know the Father.
Christ
knows his elect children by name—v3: he
calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. Christ knowledge of
his elect is an exact knowledge—their names were written in the Lamb’s book of
life from the foundation of the world. His
elect are the choice of his Father, as his Father’s gift to him.
John 10: 29: My Father, which GAVE THEM ME,…
John 17: 2: As thou hast given him power over all flesh,
that he should give eternal life to AS MANY AS THOU HAST GIVEN HIM….6: I have
manifested thy name unto the men which THOU GAVEST ME out of the world: THINE
THEY WERE, AND THOU GAVEST THEM ME….9 I pray FOR THEM: I pray not for the world,
but FOR THEM which THOU HAST GIVEN ME; for they are thine. 10: And all mine are
thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them….12 While I was
with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that THOU GAVEST ME I
have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the
scripture might be fulfilled. 20: Neither pray I for these alone, but for
them also which shall believe on me through their word;
As
the gospel word goes forth, Christ says he calls his sheep and when he calls
each of his elect—his sheep know him and follow him only.
John 10: 4: And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he
goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: FOR THEY KNOW HIS VOICE. 5: And a
stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: FOR THEY KNOW NOT THE
VOICE OF STRANGERS.
This is
called “irresistible grace”. Be sure to
get this: When Christ calls one of his own, the Holy Spirit has given them a
new heart, a new understanding, this call is an inner working whereby Christ is
formed in you and makes his child to know Christ and follow Christ. His call always gets the job done! When we
hear the gospel we hear Christ’s voice.
And when we hear a false gospel we recognize it because it is not the
truth of the Redeemer we have been made to know—v5: the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. And a stranger will
they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of
strangers.
The
apostle John is being used to pen our text so turn over to 1 John and let’s hear
John declare how we know his voice.
1 John 2:20: But ye have an unction from the Holy One,
and ye know all things. (21) I have not written unto you because ye know
not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth. (22)
Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is
antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. (23) Whosoever denieth
the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son
hath the Father also. (24) Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have
heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall
remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father. (25) And
this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life. (26)
These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce
you. (27) But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in
you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth
you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you,
ye shall abide in him.
Now,
those natural descendants of Abraham—had the scriptures, had a profession in
religion, claimed to be looking for the Messiah, but as Christ preached this to
them they did not hear his voice and follow him. Christ Jesus tells us why they
did not.
John 10: 6: This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they
understood not what things they were which he spake unto them… 24: Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto
him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us
plainly. 25: Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works
that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me. 26: BUT YE BELIEVE NOT,
BECAUSE YE ARE NOT OF MY SHEEP, as I said unto you. 27: MY SHEEP HEAR MY VOICE,
and I KNOW THEM [I give them the unction from the Holy One], and THEY FOLLOW ME:
28: And I give unto them eternal life; [will his sheep ever be seduced away by
the voice of a stranger? Never! Impossiblity!] and they shall never perish,
neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater
than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. 30 I and my Father are one. 31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone
him.
This
“knowing his elect” is the intimate, inner knowledge—the mind of Christ—which
Christ gives when Christ is formed in the new man. It is impossible for God to fail in making
his child to know Christ and follow Christ.
John 6:45: It is written in the prophets, And they shall
be ALL taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of
the Father, cometh unto me….68: Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom
shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. 69: And
we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.
II. THEN IN OUR TEXT, CHRIST TELLS US PLAINLY
THAT IT IS HIS ELECT—HIS SHEEP—FOR WHOM HE LAID DOWN HIS LIFE.
John 10: 15:…and I LAY DOWN MY LIFE FOR THE
SHEEP.
Christ
just told some that they were not his sheep.
Here he says, I lay down my life for the sheep. That means Christ did
not lay down his life for those who were not his sheep.
Why is
the doctrine of particular redemption THE VITAL ISSUE? Because when Christ laid down his life for
his sheep, Christ paid the price of redemption for them so that they are
redeemed from all iniquity.
Titus
2: 14: Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and
purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
Christ
satisfied divine justice for his sheep. God justified his elect in Christ and
brings them to faith in Christ our Justifier.
Galatians 3: 11: But that no man is justified by the law
in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. 12: And
the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. 13:
CHRIST HATH REDEEMED US from the curse of the law, BEING MADE A CURSE FOR US:
for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: 14: That the
blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we
might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
Christ
said my sheep SHALL hear my voice. Each
one for whom he died MUST BE GIVEN THE PROMISE OF THE SPIRIT THROUGH FAITH for
it is impossible for God who is just to condemn one for whom Christ was made a
curse.
The
very purpose for which came into the earth was to declare the righteousness of
God—God is just and all those for whom Christ died were justified by God when
“he made him sin for us who knew no sin that we might be the righteousness of
God in him.”
The
elect of God are sons of God. They must
be given the Spirit and the gift of faith to believe on Christ who justified
them.
Galatians 4: 4 But
when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman,
made under the law, 5 To redeem them
that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. 6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth
the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
Hebrews 1:3:…when he had by himself purged our sins, sat
down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;…9: 12:…by his own blood he
entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for
us….10: 14: For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are
sanctified.
Romans 5: 8 But
God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ
died for us. 9: Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved
from wrath through him. 10: For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to
God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by
his life.
Romans 8: 29: For whom he did foreknow, he also did
predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the
firstborn among many brethren. 30: Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he
also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified,
them he also glorified. 31: What shall we then say to these things? If God be
for us, who can be against us?
Be sure you understand this: Christ did not make an attempt at putting away the sin of
the elect—he did it!
III. CHRIST TELLS US PLAINLY IN OUR TEXT THAT
HIS ELECT ARE NOT ONLY AMONG THE JEWS, BUT ALSO AMONG THE GENTILES AND THEY
EACH SHALL HEAR HIS VOICE.
John 10: 16: And other sheep I have, which
are not of this fold: them also I MUST bring, and they SHALL HEAR MY VOICE; and
there SHALL BE ONE FOLD, and ONE SHEPHERD.
The
churches made up of Christ’s elect and called sheep in the earth are scattered
here and there but all God’s first born elect children make up one church of
which Christ the Firstborn is the Head—
Hebrews 12: 23 To
the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven
to God the Judge of ALL and to the spirits of just men made perfect.
Ephesians 4: 4:: There is one body, and one Spirit, even
as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5
One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6
One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you
all.
Ephesians 3: 14: For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father
of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 Of whom the
whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16
That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be
strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
Likewise,
Christ has sent many undershepherds to preach his gospel but there is but One
Shepherd—only the Lord Jesus Christ—he ministers to each of his sheep through
his gospel.
Ecclesiastes 12:11: The words of the wise are as
goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which
are given from ONE SHEPHERD.
Ephesians 4:16
From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that
which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure
of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
1 Peter 2: 25: For ye were as sheep going astray; but are
now returned unto THE Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
Application: How do I know if I am one of his sheep? Do you hear his Voice? Do you know him? Are
you following him? Do you delight for Christ to receive all the glory, all
preeminence as the Father delights? Is your heart full of rejoicing that Christ
has finished the work and you trust that you are complete in him? He said, “My sheep hear my voice and they follow me.
I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. If not, I do hope he make himself known in you
and if so--we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved
of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation
through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: Whereunto he
called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus
Christ. Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have
been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.
( 2 Thessalonians 2: 12-15)
Amen!